Jinamanjari 1998 04 No 17

SR No.: 524017
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jinamanjari
Publisher: Canada Bramhi Jain Society Publication
Publication Year: 1998
Total Pages: 96
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, Canada_Jinamanjari, & Canada
File Size: 6 MB

Page 69

According to Kõlanupāk inscription, Mēghachandra who bore the epithets Māladhāri and Siddhāntadēva, was said to have the following pupils - Malanandisūri, Padmaprabhaśrīmuni and Mādhavēndu, who was also Siddhāntadēva. Here, I am inclined to think that Mēghachandra Bhattāraka of the present record is identical with Mēghachandra of Kõlanupāk inscription and Mēghachandra Siddhāntadēva of the Govindapuram epigraph, as they belong to the same Kānūr-gana and Meshapāshāņa-gachchha and the same period, 12th century. Moreover, it is also evident that Mēghachandra Siddhāntadēva of three above records was said to have installed Lord Pārsva images only.
Relying on the three records - Govindpuram, Kõlanupāk and the present epigraph, the pedigree of the preceptors of the Kānūr-gaña and Meshapāshāņa-gachchha may be arranged tentatively as follows:
Teachers of Kānür-gana and Meshapäshāņa-gachchha
Bāļachandramuni
Mēghachandra Bhattāraka
Padmanandi
Mēghachandra (Māladhāri and Siddhāntadēva)
I Padmaprabhasrimuni.
Malanandusūri
Mādhavēndu Siddhāntadēva
I may also suggest here that the ascetic Mēghachandra appears to have been chosen by the merchant guild as the presiding head of the basadi of the record.
Before concluding this study, I venture to say that the basadi of Gangāpur which was dedicated to Lord Pārsva is identical with the basadi of Gollathagudi, which is adjacent to Gangāpur record. If the above identification is correct, it throws light on the antiquity of Gollathagudi where the department of Archaeology and Museums of Andhra State has been conducting excavations. It is now clear from this record that the basadi of Gollathagudi was known to have been constructed in the 12th century C.E. by Bammiśētti.
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